Fagafaga welcomes new KVZK Deputy Director

Wed, 06/26/2013 - 6:44pm

“Tialuga (Vincent Iuli) is an asset to KVZK TV given his vast knowledge in the media business, not only with TV and radio but also with print media, and with his experience he will assist KVZK in the direction which the TV station is heading," said Office of Public Information Director Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde, adding that Tialuga has been placed in charge of getting a multitude of local programs launched.

Samoa News contacted the station director following news of Tialuga's hiring as Deputy Director for the local TV Station.

According to Fagafaga, Tialuga, who was the Press Officer for the governor's office during the Togiola administration, will play a huge role in the upcoming programs that KVZK TV is trying to revive, which will appeal to all types of audiences.

“We're in the process of reviving the Talofa Tamaiti which was popular in 60s and the 70s. There will also be a game show, a cooking show and a live morning show," he told Samoa News.

“A current affairs show will also feature events going on around the territory, which is in the making at the moment — it's only a matter of organizing these shows and finding hosts," Fagafaga said, adding that it's all geared toward having Channel-2 “local” by the end of the year.

He noted that next year will mark 50 years since KVZK- TV was established.

Fagafaga made it clear that long term TV announcer, Siniva Anoa’i remains as Assistant Director, as was her title when he was appointed Director.

“Nothing changes the position of Siniva, who remains assistant director and she’s been directed to oversee several upcoming programs," said Fagafaga.

He also commented on the challenges that KVZK TV is currently experiencing which are causing delays to some of the projects the station is trying to launch. He noted the operating budget gets diminished year after year, not only with local funding but also from the feds, and KVZK is seeking out new revenue sources in order to continue the station's operations, as well as improve the standards and quality of the programs.

Fagafaga also pointed out the station itself was first built in 1964, and since then there has been very little maintenance, adding that the building itself is in pretty bad shape. He further stated that equipment is very old and there’s a great need for new equipment.

TIALUGA VINCENT “VINCE” IULI

Tialuga told Samoa News that he applied for the KVZK-TV position when there was a call for people to apply for positions based on their background and area of expertise. “I want to thank KVZK-TV Director Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde for tapping me to work with him in helping fulfill Governor Lolo Moliga's wish of having more local programs," he stated.

“I am full of hope that I will become an asset to a great all-Samoan staff, who genuinely want to improve our public television service to our people; and also be of assistance to the KVZK Director who has many great ideas to pursue in broadcasting."

“More importantly, I'm excited about the Director's plans for on-going training and capacity-building here at the Office of Public Information,” said Tialuga.

­­­­Tialuga was the former governor's press officer, where he managed and coordinated news activities for the Togiola administration as media liaison. He also worked with the ASG webmaster, posting Governor’s Office news on the website as well as assisting news gathering and disseminating for the government newsletter.

The newly hired deputy director also has expertise in the marketing area where he was marketing specialist for American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority (ASTCA). There he managed, organized and developed marketing strategies and also designed and created the first ever ASTCA prepaid landline and cell phone cards.

Tialuga was, it should be noted, the advertising manager for Samoa News in the 90s as well as an editor for the Samoa News To’asavili Saturday Edition from 2002 to 2004. He also worked for Pacific Magazine between October 2003 and July 2008, where he was the local agent for the Honolulu-based company. He also worked for a time as Retail Development Specialist with Blue Sky Communications.

In 1978 Tialuga started working as a Television Producer for a show called “Urban Udpate” with WNAC-TV, in Boston, Massachusetts where he planned, coordinated and produced weekly multicultural community issues for the program, which examined news events and issues that had a broad impact on New England's minority communities.

His experience extends to radio broadcasting, with 2RRR 88.5FM in Sydney, Australia, as well as being Station Manager for local radio station WVUV 684.

In Australia, he worked as coordinator for Aboriginal Koori Radio in Sydney, the Australian Ethnic Radio Training Project (AERTP) also in Sydney, and locally worked as radio announcer at V103 The People’s Station – WVUV-FM, prior to being appointed as Deputy Director at KVZK.

Tialuga holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications — for radio/ television/ journalism from Emerson College in Boston, Mass. and a Masters in Education/Public Administration/ Human Resources from San Diego State University.